Passing the time

So now that we are officially waiting for our referrals I wanted to find things that I could do to pass the time, besides shopping that is. Then I remembered a book that I had read and that I had copied pages from it (I borrowed the book from the library). The book is called The Complete Book of International Adoption by Dawn Davenport, I recommend this book to anyone that is contemplating International Adoption. Here are things that she recommends to do while waiting for your referral.

1.) GET IN SHAPE. I joined a gym and am trying to go to classes 6 days a week. Key word is trying.
2.) CHOOSE A PEDIATRICIAN. This we still need to do. Any suggestions, we go to Christie Clinic?
3.) GET THE REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS. This one we have started.
4.) PREPARE A WILL OR REVIEW YOUR EXISTING ONE. We have talked about making one but have yet to do.
5.) FIND OUT YOUR EMPLOYER'S POLICY ON ADOPTION LEAVE. Check
6.) GET BOTH PARENTS UP TO SPEED. What she means by this is that usually one person does all the paperwork, research, etc. (i.e. me) and that that person should let the other person know what is going on, which I do, so...Check.
7.) MAKE SURE GRANDPARENTS AND CLOSE FRIENDS UNDERSTAND ATTACHMENT AND BONDING TECHNIQUES. By letting those close to know about this you are less likely to offend them when you don't let them hold your child(ren) for long periods of time when you are working on the bonding/attachment with your child(ren).
8.) READ ADOPTION BOOKS AND ARTICLES. Have read some and still reading as much as I can.
9.) LEARN AS MUCH OF YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH LANGUAGE AS POSSIBLE. This one is a little more difficult because Amharic is not a language that they have a lot of information on, we did buy a translation book and a CD to teach us a little, but only to speak to children not to the adults. Meaning that you say "Hi" to a child differently than you would do an adult. Still more to learn on this.
10.) READ CHILD-DEVELOPMENT AND PARENTING BOOKS. Still need to do.
11.) CHOOSE A NAME. In our case names. We have a girl's name chosen and it will Mya her Ethiopian name Jane, of course Mya could become something if once we see her face and we feel that she is not a Mya, so I guess we will see when the time comes. Coming up with a boy's name has proven very difficult. I like Solomon and Tyson but Matt can't decide for the life of him, we are hoping it will come to us once we see his face. We do know that he will have two middle names and they will be his Ethiopian name and David. So come on referrals so we can finally choose a name.
12.) PAMPER YOURSELF. Do this every chance we get.
13.) START A JOURNAL. Hopefully a blog counts.
14.) WRITE YOUR PARENTS A THANK YOU LETTER. Will need to get on this one.
15.) ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSETS, DRAWERS AND CUPBOARDS. Waiting for the nesting period to kick in on this one.
16.) CHILDPROOF YOUR HOME. Have bought the gates, still need to put up.
17.) TAKE A CHILD CPR COURSE. Really want to do this one and probably will once the class comes up to take.
18.) LEARN TO TAKE DECENT PICTURES, ESPECIALLY OF CHILDREN. Need to buy new camera first.
19.) PREPARE YOUR PETS FOR THE BABY'S ARRIVAL. Starting this one.
20.) TACKLE YOUR "SOMEDAY" LIST.
21.) TAKE CHILD CARE CLASSES AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. Looked into this one and our hospitals don't offer any classes like this.
22.) BUY A COOKBOOK FROM YOUR CHILD'S COUNTRY. Probably won't be doing this since Matt and I do not care for Ethiopian cuisine.
23.) LEARN A FEW LULLABIES AND BOUNCY GAMES. Check
24.) SHOP GARAGE SALES FOR BABY ITEMS AND TOYS. Oh I started this a looonnnggg time ago and I am still doing it.
25.) BUY A FEW FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS. Check
26.) LEARN BABY MASSAGE TECHNIQUES. Still need to do.
27.) SEND A TRANSITION OBJECT OR PHOTO ALBUM TO YOUR CHILD(REN). Will be doing this once we get our referrals.
28.) BEGIN PREPARING A LIFE BOOK FOR YOUR CHILD.
29.) PRINT YOUR POSTS FROM ONLINE FORMS. I do do this and I have a three ring binder to put them all in, in fact I am going out today to buy a bigger binder.
30.) GET A LOCAL OR NATIONAL NEWSPAPER FROM YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH DATE. Again, will have to wait until we get our referrals for this one.
31.) COOK AND FREEZE MEALS FOR THE FIRST WEEKS BACK. Planning on doing this plus the baby's food when we get a lot closer to traveling.
32.) DECORATE THE NURSERY. Have started on this one.
33.) BUY BABY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADDRESS THE ENVELOPES. Will do this once we get home with the babes.
34.) BUY GIFTS FOR YOUR CHILD'S CAREGIVERS AND GUEST HOUSE EMPLOYEES. Have started this still need to get a few more things but we have time.
35.) BUY AND READ TRAVEL BOOKS ON YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY. Check
36.) MAKE COLOR COPIES OF YOUR CHILD'S PICTURES. Waiting for them to come to us.
37.) LOOK INTO DAYCARE. Have started this one.

So there they are some things to do while waiting on your referral and while waiting to travel. I'm hoping that that can keep me busy for a month or two and then I'll have to find something else to do after that. At least it will be spring/summer by then and it will be a lot easier to find things to do by then.

Hopefully I have been able to give anyone who is also in the waiting phase some ideas to keep sane until that moment we get to meet our precious child/ren.